Be sure to keep all valuables out of plain sight. Don’t leave anything of great importance inside your vehicle when you’re away for any period of time.

Also, consider the following vandalism safety tips:
• Make a copy of your driver’s license, bank and credit card(s), passport or any form of identification to keep in a safe place at home
• Create a list of the items generally carried in your wallet or purse
• Park in well-lit areas
• Always lock your car doors
• Use common sense and listen to your gut
Contact your local law enforcement agency for additional vandalism safety tips

According to Safelite Auto Glass there are some bad habits that can hurt our vehicles.

Here are five of those habits:

1. Carrying too much weight

Safelite says that according to Cars.com, having too much weight in your car can put unnecessary stress on some of its critical systems, leading to premature wear. Too much weight makes your engine work harder than it should.

Here’s what you can do: Take a close look at what’s in your car. Can you remove some of the stuff that’s in it?

2. Ignoring a tiny chip in the windshield

So you notice a tiny speck or chip in the corner of your windshield? It’s not in your way. You can still see so it’s no big deal right? Wrong. That tiny speck can turn into a giant crack requiring a full windshield replacement if it’s ignored. Another factor to consider is the cost of repairing a small windshield chip. It’s usually much lower than replacing an entire windshield.

What you can do: Get the chip repaired immediately. Auto Glass Maxx technicians use some of the highest quality materials on windshield repairs.

3. Never replacing your tires

You want to keep an eye on your tires. It’s critical to the health of your car and possibly you or someone else. Don’t just look at the tire tree. Pay attention to your tires pressure. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that under inflated tires are up to 25 percent more likely to overheat, fail and cause an accident. Tire tread is also important, since not having enough tree can cause skidding, shaky steering and vibrations. Even if your tires look good to you it doesn’t mean they are good.

What you can do: Check your tire pressure and tread depth often. You can use a penny to check depth by inserting the ‘heads” side down into the tread. If the entire head is visible, you don’t have enough tree. A good rule of thumb is keeping your tires at 2/32″ tread depth minimum.

4. Keeping your car in a heated garage

When you park your snow or ice-covered car in a warm garage, the heat melts the fluids which mix with salt from the roads. This combination sits in puddles on or near your car, and increases the risk of oxidation (also known as rusting).

What you can do: Instead of keeping your car in a headed garage, try a non-temperature controlled garage or covered space. Your vehicle will still be protected from the harsh winter winds and snow, but won’t succumb to melting salt, ice and rust.

5. Not doing research before an auto repair

If you have no idea what’s going on with your vehicle, how do you know how serious the repair will be? You also won’t know how long the repair will take or how much the bill will be. Proactive car “health” care is the best way to take care of your car.

What you can do: Research the symptoms of problems your car is having before you visit an auto mechanic. This way you’re a little more prepared for the diagnosis and repair plan, and you’re not caught off guard. More importantly, you’re not taken advantage of. Studies have shown that some auto mechanics take advantage of ignorance by charging more than they would for a more educated customer.

What do these holiday activities have in common – family gatherings, shopping trips, decorating, baking, wrapping and so much more? They all involve some kind of traveling whether it’s driving to the store for gifts, cookie ingredients or wrapping paper, or traveling for hours to spend time with relatives.

The holidays are well-known as a time of year when travel picks up. According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the number of long-distance trips increases by 54 percent during the 6-day Thanksgiving travel period, and 23 percent during the Christmas/New Year’s holiday. That’s a lot of cars on the roads and airplanes in the sky.

And if there are two travel factors that are important to you this time of year, we’re guessing they’re staying safe and saving money. Hopefully this list of holiday travel tips can help with both as you get behind the wheel.

Choose the right days and times to travel. Most people hit the roads the day before the holiday and leave the day after. On average, long distance travelers stay at a destination for four days during the Christmas/New Year’s holidays. Try to avoid the rush by leaving and coming back early, or leaving and coming back later.
Get your car serviced before the trip. Things like bad hoses, belts, water pumps and spark plugs can turn a winter road trip south faster than you know it by leaving you stranded. Before you venture out, get all of these items checked at your local auto shop. It’s cheaper than paying for your car to be towed off the side of the road and paying for the fix.
Use your headlights. This is especially important if it’s raining or snowing. In inclement weather, always turn on your headlights. This is not necessarily for your own benefit, but so other drivers can see you. Your taillights will be brighter too.
Check weather conditions in advance. Be prepared for the worst, even if it might not happen. Check the weather before leaving and always keep an emergency kit in your car that includes a blanket, flares, first-aid kit, jumper cables and a flashlight.
Don’t rush. One of the quickest ways to burn a hole in your wallet is by getting a speeding ticket. Avoid this travel damper by sticking to the speed limits and getting to your destination safely.
Take breaks periodically. No matter how fast you want to get to where you’re going, taking breaks is important, especially if you’re tired. Pull over and stop in a safe area where you can stretch your legs. The recommended stopping cadence is once every 100 miles (or two hours).
Bring snacks with you. While it’s necessary to stop and take a break every few hours, it doesn’t mean you have to buy snacks and drinks every time you stop. To save money, bring a cooler or drinks and prepare a few snacks, like fruit, cheese and crackers, or even sandwiches. It’s amazing how quickly food expenses can add up while traveling.
Don’t tell the Internet when and where you’re going. Telling your social media audience you’re leaving for a trip is dangerous – you never know who will decide to take advantage of your unoccupied property. Also, set up timers to turn a few lights on and off and give the impression that you’re still home.
Make sure your windshield wipers are in good condition. Winter can be hard on your wiper blades, especially if ice freezes to your windshield. And remember that windshield wipers should be changed every six months. You’ll know when they need changed – the quality of the wipe will be poor and leave streaks across your windshield.

At the end of the day, staying safe while traveling for the holidays can also save you money, because it’s less money to put into your car. By following these holiday travel tips by keeping your car’s maintenance up to date, preparing for your trip in advance and making wise choices on the road, you’ll be safely on your way to your holiday party in no time. Enjoy!

Flash flooding is the leading weather-related killer in the United States. More than 100 people are killed every year in flash floods. Half of the victims die trapped in their cars. Some floods can take several hours or even days to develop, but a flash flood can hit in a matter of a few minutes, typically occurs in low-lying areas and is caused by intense rainfall from a thunderstorm or several thunderstorms.

A Flood Watch means flooding is possible, you should stay alert and be prepared to evacuate. A Flood Warning means flooding is occurring or about to occur, the flood area should be immediately evacuated and those affected should go to higher ground.

The need for action is most urgent in a flash flood because it happens so rapidly.

Drivers should not be lulled into a sense of false security just because they are in a vehicle when flooding occurs. When water is running across a road, drivers should always turn around and choose a different route.

If you’re in a vehicle during a flash flood or if water is rising around it, all occupants should get out immediately and go to higher ground. Just six inches of water can cause tires to lose traction and slide; 12 inches will float many vehicles. Don’t sit in the vehicle and let it fill up with water. Stay calm and unbuckle your seat belt. Open the door to get out as long as water is below the bottom of the door.

If water is higher than the bottom of the door, don’t open the door because it will let in water. Power windows don’t stop working immediately, so you should be able to roll your window down and get out that way.

Carrying a special hammer for breaking vehicle windows would be helpful in case windows can’t be rolled down. Rear window may be best escape route since it’s larger. A flashlight helps in the dark, especially if you’re alone in an area with no streetlights.

Do not touch, brush against or try to remove a live wire on your vehicle while exiting. Once outside the vehicle, go to higher ground. If there is no ground or structure nearby that is higher than the roof of your vehicle, consider climbing on to your vehicle’s roof, especially to avoid being swept away by fast-moving water.

Try to keep your cell phone dry and operational, so you can call 911 after escaping to higher

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Awesome customer service. I broke my driver side glass and had called in for them to order a 2005 glass for a Toyota Corolla and when I got there of course it didn’t fit cause I’m a girl and gave them the wrong year..lol but they were nice enough to be positive and not give me an attitude even though I felt so bad they still went out of there way and said it was okay and drove to go get it for me to install it and didn’t raise up the price .sorry for the long review but just thought I’d menti…

You won’t find better customer service or pricing than this shop. Charles and his staff diagnosed and fixed a mystery leak under my console and pointed out the mistake made by my former repair shop which caused it. They were courteous, friendly and informative throughout the process and even vacuumed out the water and polished my clouded headlight cover. I will be back, and highly recommend you try them out, too.

I got a new windshield placed in my ES 330 Lexus. They took only 40 minutes at the most. They did a great job. Good price as well.

Price can not be beat. I called several places for quotes on replacing my windshield and it was outrageous. Of course I wasn’t only sold on their price, but also on the other reviews. My windshield was in stock, the service was quality and I was out in less than an hour. I recommend this place, everyone was really friendly.